Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

A Charming Introduction

Patricia looks up and catches the sight of who bumped her. It was a handsome young man with strawberry blond hair. It was neatly brushed on one side. His face was the softest thing she had ever seen in her life. It felt like the world turned slowly as she watched him offer her his hand. She has seen so many handsome boys in her life, but it feels like nothing tops this boy she met. Her heart beats faster than before. Is this love?

She gleefully accepted his hand and his offer to help. The blond boy pulled her up to make her stand. She stares longer at the young man before getting snapped off the reality. “Hey girl,” the boy called her. She looks at him again, she was still amused by how handsome the young man in front of her is. She heard a snapping sound that cut her daydreaming.

Patricia shakes her head and looks at him, “I am sorry.” She said as she sets her hair behind her ear. The blond boy was unfazed by her and laughs, “I know I am handsome, I saw that stare earlier which is honestly uncomfortable.” Patricia flushed in embarrassment. “I am sorry, girl. I’m going to say this before you get your hopes up. I prefer men, just like you, unless?”

Patricia looks at him, she was a bit embarrassed and shocked. She fixes herself and crosses her arms, “Where did you get the idea that you need to tell that?” The young man laughs again, “I have read enough romance novels to know this high school cliché. Didn’t you feel your stomach have some sort of fluttering butterflies? Did the world around you turn slowly? Did you feel that you have met the love of your life?” He giggles, “Because I certainly didn’t.”

“You’re unnecessarily rude,” Patricia tried to walk away but she was pulled back. “Hey, don’t take this to heart.” She looks at the boy once more and groans, “Yeah, don’t take something to heart when someone was unnecessarily harsh to you.” The boy sighs, “Fine, I know I might have gone overboard with that joke. However, you don’t need to externalize your anger much in public. I have been observing you since our Pristinity class.”

Patricia looks at him with confusion all over her face and hisses playfully, “Now who’s getting someone uncomfortable.” The blond boy rolls his eyes, “It’s not that you haven’t done that before, no? It’s just your introduction earlier was a bit off-putting.” “What do you mean?” The young man snickers, “You don’t say you became a lot nervous when it’s your time to showcase your ability?”

The introduction session of the class has started and Patricia isn’t far off to be the next one to introduce herself. After several students, the person next to her returned to his seat. She took a deep breath and stands on her chair. She went in front, near Miss Cassidy who was waiting for her. She faces her classmates, she didn’t feel anything but confidence in her heart.

“Good morning, good morning, good morning to you all!” Patricia greeted them with pure joy and excitement. It was just like the previous ones she have experienced before. “The beautiful lady in front of you is no other than Patricia Prudent.” She flips her hair which made the others cheer. She knew that would take their attention. Even Miss Cassidy giggled at her stunt. “I am already 18 years old and I am not actually from here, I am from another world called the Earth. I am new to this world, and I certainly want to make new friends that are just like me, a mentiel.”

She suddenly remembered the next part of the introduction, the showcase. Patricia suddenly froze in place, and it’s quite obvious that something happened. Her cheerful aura suddenly dropped, even the smile on her lips.

Patricia heard someone clearing their throat. She turned to the source of the sound, finding Miss Cassidy by her side. “I think Patricia couldn’t be able to show you all her ability due to personal reasons.” She awkwardly nods, “Y-yeah.” She agreed as Miss Cassidy smiles, “You could return to your seat now, Miss Prudent. We are happy to welcome you to our world.”

Patricia returned to her seat with tension brewing up in her mind. It feels like everyone is looking at her with judgment. A student who can’t even showcase a sample of her ability in a school that she will use it 99% of the time. It was disappointing, but she tried to shake it off her head.

“So why do you need to care?” Patricia crosses her arms. “Well, that’s a bit mean of you. I am just trying to help you… well, somehow. Just like you, I am from the Earth as well. We’re both these people that they call Armentiels. I’ve been there, friend, and I am willing to help you.”

Patricia lightens up, “You could?” The boy nods, “Well, as much as I can, of course. It’s just a pity that everyone seems to be judging you a lot because of what happened back there.” Patricia sighs, “I don’t need your sympathy, I just need help with this magic thing, that’s all.” He chuckles, “Okay, okay, Miss Impatient.”

“Wait, you have been offering these things to me, and you seem to know me very well yet I don’t know you yet.” The blond boy chuckles, “The name’s Gabriel, just call me Gab.” He offers his hand, this time to shake her hands not to help her stand. Patricia accepts it, this time not daydreaming about anything absurd. “I am Patricia, well, you know it already.”

Gabriel laughs, “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Patricia. I haven’t met anyone as interesting as you.” Patricia looks at her, “You sound like you need something from me.” He laughs again, “It’s not that. It’s just… a mentiel that doesn’t have the capability herself to do anything about her powers. That’s an interesting situation to be in.”

“Do you mean torturous? Because it is.” She sighs, “Besides, I have the ability to summon these weird crystal things I have. It’s just…” Gabriel looks at her, “It’s just…?” Patricia puffs out a handful of air, “It’s just I can’t summon it properly. Haven’t the incident earlier morning circled that whole school?”

“What do you mean—“ Gabriel struck in realization, “Wait, you’re that student that almost hurt someone on the school grounds?” Patricia rolls her eyes, “If my luck can’t be any more non-existent, yes, I am the one who did that.” She looks at him, “Look, I didn’t mean to summon those crystals to hurt her. I just want to break the fight, okay? It’s just that the heroism in my mind got turned, and I am the one who’s the baddie now.”

“That’s why the reason for it happening couldn’t form in my mind.” Gabriel looks at her, “I really think you just need to have control of yourself, just that.” Patricia sighs, “If that’s the help you are offering to me, then I am sorry that won’t do.” She huffs and puffs, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Bethel-Craith has arranged a special class for me with Miss Cassidy. All I can say is just thank you for the accompaniment. It was nice to take out some burdens I got since the class. I didn’t have any notes for the first lesson nor listen to any of it.” She gently slaps her face with her hand, “I will regret that sooner or later.”

“Don’t worry, if I can’t help you with your magic dilemma, I have everything you need for the first lesson. But next time, shake those problems away and get yourself together, okay? I am glad that Miss Cassidy didn’t catch you just staring in the empty air.”

Gabriel handed her his notebook which Patricia gladly took. “I’ll just copy the important parts, thank you.” He chuckles, “You can copy everything, you could return that to me tomorrow. My first subject is Valiantry or just meet me here where we are. I don’t need my notebooks at me all the time, anyway.”

“Thank you,” Patricia smiles as Gabriel looks at the school clock in the distance. “Well, it’s getting near for the next class. I’ll be going now. Good luck with your endeavors.” He left her swiftly, going in the other direction. Patricia kept his notebook in her bag and decided to head her way to the history class building. It was surprisingly the library where the incident early on happened. As her eyes landed near the stairs, everything suddenly rushes into her mind. Every single detail of the fight she has gotten into.

Patricia shakes it off and entered the building. She was welcomed by a big door with two hallways on each side. She searches for her classroom which didn’t take long for her. She immediately entered and purposefully just waited inside the classroom rather than outside. The classroom was filled with bookshelves, mostly history texts and even some exhibits that she thinks are learning references. The seats are neatly-aligned with each other and they could accommodate two students facing a big blackboard with a lot of maps and several “historical clutter” on the teacher’s table. She entertained herself by just looking around the room.

After a long while of waiting, the classroom finally fills up and the teacher for their history class arrived. She has long black hair that almost reached the ground and pale skin that was strange for Patricia to even look at. She has a silk fabric attached to her waist as if it was a mini-skirt. Now she noticed it, some of her classmates have some silk fabric on parts of their bodies as well.

“Good morning,” her stern and cold voice emits across the room. The students stood and greeted her. “I am Mrs. Pleasance Gerville, and I will be your history teacher for the whole year.” She reaches out a teaching stick, playing with it as she introduces herself. “There’s no need for introduction, as long as you’re active in my class, I will know you slowly but surely.” She sticks her hand on her side and a book suddenly rushes towards her palm. “Please take out your books that the school recommended you to get and go to page 18.”

Mrs. Gerville puts the book and it flips itself on its own, going to the page she mentioned. “Our lesson for today is to explain a lot of terms that we will be using for the rest of the year. Remember these things because I don’t want anyone asking questions again.”

They went on a long list of boring terms that Patricia most probably forget. It’s been half of the day and she still doesn’t feel enticed to learn anything about anything. The sudden off-topic of her teacher about some subtle hate with Arthiels is putting her off-guard too. Her day is clearly not going well.

The class ended with a lot of the students having mixed emotions, it was an awkward class. It was too much for Patricia to process that she just realized it was already time for her next subject, Thereal Beastiary, and Herbology.

She took her things and head out to a building with a big glass dome roof and some small buildings with a glass roof as well akin to a greenhouse. She immediately went inside to find her classroom without hesitation. Patricia likes plants and animals, maybe this could light a spark in her heart to finally listen to a single lesson?

Patricia entered a classroom, slightly bumping into someone. It was just a light brush on the shoulder but it was enough for her to look who it was. With the sight of a familiar short hair and a small glimpse at the person’s face, she was able to identify the person. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”